CABARRUS COUNTY, NC — Four years after first announcing its plans, Red Bull is preparing to officially break ground on a massive beverage production and distribution campus in North Carolina.
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Local officials confirmed the project will move forward this month, signaling one of the region’s largest economic development milestones in recent years.
Brian Hiatt, interim executive director of the Cabarrus County Economic Development Corp., told the Charlotte Observer that the Austrian energy drink maker would break ground on the site near Charlotte in early September.
The new facility will be built on the former Philip Morris cigarette plant site, now transformed into a sprawling industrial park. Red Bull will be joined by beverage partner Rauch North America and packaging supplier Ball Corp. in creating a vertically integrated production and distribution hub.
The Red Bull and Rauch plant, their second in the U.S., will handle production, filling, and distribution with a staggering capacity of up to 3 billion cans per year.
Meanwhile, Ball Corp. will construct an 800,000-square-foot aluminum can manufacturing plant nearby, providing packaging not only for Red Bull but also for other beverage makers.
The companies initially revealed plans for the Cabarrus site in 2021, but the project expanded significantly after officials approved additional incentives. Now, the partners plan to invest $1.5 billion in total, underscoring the long-term commitment to North Carolina’s economy.
Operations at the Red Bull and Rauch facility are expected to begin in 2028, with full production capacity anticipated by 2031.
Local leaders have emphasized the significance of the project for both jobs and regional development. The site is expected to create thousands of jobs across manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain operations, while also stimulating growth for related industries across Cabarrus County.
“The Red Bull and Rauch facility represents a transformative investment in our region’s future,” Hiatt said, highlighting the opportunity to reposition the former tobacco plant site as a hub for advanced manufacturing and global trade.
State and county officials see the project as part of a broader shift in Cabarrus County’s economy, one that leans away from legacy tobacco and textile industries toward innovative food, beverage, and materials production.
Industry analysts note that the partnership also reflects growing demand for vertically integrated supply chains, ensuring beverage companies can maintain stable packaging supplies amid global shortages. The proximity of the Ball Corp. can-making plant will help Red Bull manage costs and reduce shipping-related emissions.
By anchoring the site with both production and packaging operations, the companies aim to position the Cabarrus County campus as one of the most strategically resilient beverage manufacturing centers in North America.
Construction at the campus will begin this month, with site work continuing over the next several years. Once complete, the project is expected to cement Cabarrus County as a hub for high-value beverage manufacturing, bringing both global recognition and long-term economic stability to the Charlotte region.
Originally reported by Andy Szal in Thomas Net.
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